Effect of gender on the obstetric-gynecologic work force

As increasing numbers of female physicians enter the specialty of obstetric s and gynecology, their productivity (defined as producing goods and servic es) as compared with male physicians becomes important. Data from the Ameri can Medical Association socioeconomic survey and from a survey of ACOG Fell ows indicate that, as a group, female physicians in the specialty are appro ximately 85% as productive as male physicians in the specialty. ACOG data f or physician net income validate the productivity calculations (P <.03). Th e increasing numbers of female physicians in the specialty will lead to a d ecreasing aggregate productivity. At the same time, the increasing numbers of women of all ages in the United States will lead to a decline in the ava ilable obstetrician-gynecologist work force beginning in the year 2010. (Ob stet Gynecol 2001;97:794-7, (C) 2001 by The American College of Obstetricia ns and Gynecologists.).